Durham, N.C. -- Arizona State's Dustin Pedroia went 5-for-7 and Jeff Larish went 4-for-8 as the U.S. National Team (3-0) swept a doubleheader on Thursday evening to take a 2-0 lead in the 32nd Annual USA vs. Japan Series. USA completed game one of the series this evening with a 3-0 victory and closed the doubleheader out with a 9-4 victory vs. Japan. Both games were played at Durham Athletic Park in Durham, N.C.

Pedroia and Larish, who are the ninth and 10th all-time ASU selections to the USA Baseball National Team, have been a key part of the 3-0 start to the Red, White and Blue tour. Each starting all three games, Pedroia has combined to go 5-for-9 (.556) and Larish is 5-for-10 (.500).

In the second game of the doubleheader, USA served as the visiting team and exploded for 11 hits off five Japanese pitchers including a grand slam home run by Danny Putnam (IF, So., Stanford) to defeat Japan in a seven-inning affair. Putnam was 4-for-5 with two runs scored and five RBI. Justin Orenduff (RHP, So., Virginia Commonwealth)went all seven innings to earn the win for USA. Orenduff struck out six batters while walking three and allowing five hits.

USA broke out of the gates with three runs in the first inning. The Red, White & Blue sent eight batters to the plate and knocked out Japan starter Kazuomi Tando. Putnam and Jeff Clement (C, So., USC) each had RBI doubles to give USA a quick three-run lead. Japan struck back for one run in the bottom half of the inning. A one-out walk for Kazuya Adachi followed by a stolen base and wild pitch allowed Hiroyasu Tanaka to knock Adachi in to cut the deficit to two runs.

USA increased the lead back to four with two more runs in the second inning. RBI singles by Dustin Pedroia (IF, So., Arizona State) and Putnam put the USA on top 5-1. Japan came back in the bottom half with another run without scoring a hit to trim the lead to three runs.

After a scoreless third inning, Putnam's grand slam in the fourth inning gave the USA an insurmountable 9-1 lead. Walks to Eric Patterson (IF, So., Georgia Tech) and Pedroia and a base hit by Jeff Larish (IF, So., Arizona State) set the stage for Putnam, who drove the first pitch over the left center field wall for the first home run by a USA player this year. Putnam's grand slam was the first in the USA vs. Japan series since Matt Williams in the 1985 series. Larish finished 3-for-4 and Pedroia was 2-for-3 leading the USA at the plate.

Earlier in the evening, USA and Japan finished the first game of the series with the USA holding on for a 3-0 shutout win. The opening game of the series was suspended in the fourth inning due to rain and unplayable field conditions. Micah Owings (RHP/IF, Fr., Georgia Tech) entered in the fifth inning for USA and pitched 3 2/3 innings allowing just two hits to pick up the win for USA. Huston Street (RHP, So., Texas) came on in relief in the ninth inning to record his first save of the season.

Team USA held the three-run lead before the day started. USA opened up a two-run lead on Japan in the top of the first inning last night. After a lead off walk to Patterson, Dustin Pedroia knocked a double down the left field line that was misplayed by left fielder Naoki Hayashi allowing Patterson to score. Larish continued the quick start for USA with a RBI base hit through the right side to score Pedroia and give USA a two-run lead. USA increased the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning as Mike Nickeas (C, So., Georgia Tech) scored on a RBI double by Patterson.

Jered Weaver (RHP, So., Long Beach State) pitched four shutout innings for Team USA and had allowed just one hit while striking out four batters. Pedroia led USA at the plate batting 3-for-4 with one run scored.

USA and Japan will now travel to Myrtle Beach, S.C. for two games at Coastal Federal Field. USA and Japan will play on Friday afternoon with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. and on Saturday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. The series concludes on Monday, July 7 at 7 p.m. back in Durham, N.C. at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.